Automatically transmitting e-mail to specified backup address for out-of-office recipient

Abstract

An Out-of-Office utility provides a notification reminder to an email sender and automatically populates the address field with an email address of a specific backup recipient when the sender composes an email to an out-of-office recipient from whom the sender had previously received an automated out-of-office reply. When an automated out-of-office reply is initially received by the sender's email application, the Out-of-Office utility captures and stores the out-of-office notification data (e.g., sender and recipient e-mail Identifiers (IDs), email recipient's out-of-office dates, backup recipient's email address, and actual notification message). When the sender types in an e-mail ID while composing an email message, the utility scans an up-to-date (current) file of previously received out-of-office information. If there is an email ID match, the utility displays a pop-up window alerting and notifying the sender of the previously received message. The Out-of-Office utility also automatically populates the address field of the email being composed with the backup recipient's e-mail address.

1 . A method comprising:
 recording a receipt of a notification from a first electronic address, said notification received in response to a first electronic communication from a sender electronic address to the first electronic address;   during subsequent composition of a new electronic communication, comparing a target electronic address of each addressee with the first electronic address; and   when the target electronic address matches the first electronic address, automatically populating an address field of the electronic communication with a backup electronic address associated with the first electronic address, such that the new electronic communication is addressed to be sent to the backup electronic address.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said recording the receipt of the notification further includes storing the content of the notification identified by the electronic address within a notification list, said content including the backup electronic address;   said comparing the target electronic address includes:
 first detecting entry of the target electronic address within an address field of the new electronic communication being composed; and 
 comparing the target electronic address against one or more stored electronics address; and 
   said automatically populating the address field includes:
 matching the target electronic address to one of the one or more stored electronic address within the notification list; 
 parsing the content of the notification for the backup electronic address to which subsequent electronic communication intended for said first electronic address is to be directed during the validity period; and 
 retrieving the backup electronic address from the content stored within the notification list. 
   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said recording the receipt of the notification further includes parsing the content of the notification for a validity period, which indicates a period of time during which the notification is valid and the notification reminder should be displayed;   storing the validity period along with the rest of the content of the notification; and   said automatically populating further comprises:
 first checking whether the validity period of the notification has expired; 
 performing said automatically populating the address field with the backup electronic address only when the validity period is not expired; and 
 when the validity period is expired, deleting the content of the notification from the notification list. 
   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said automatically populating comprises:
 overwriting the target address with the backup electronic address, such that the electronic communication is automatically routed to the backup electronic address in lieu of the target electronic address when the electronic communication is transmitted; and   enabling editing of the address field following said automatically populating, said editing including one or more of: (a) removing the backup electronic address from the address field; and (b) re-entering of the target electronic address following the overwriting, wherein the re-entering of the target electronic address does not trigger a subsequent overwriting.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 highlighting the backup electronic address within the address field; and   enabling editing of the backup electronic address within the address field, wherein said editing includes removal of the backup electronic address.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said notification is an out-of-office notification, said method further comprising:
 enabling opening of a out-of-office notification activation (ONA) graphical user interface (GUI); and   displaying within the ONA GUI a plurality of selectable options, including setup of an out-of-office notification and entry of an electronic address corresponding to the backup electronic address and the validity period in which the notification is valid.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 first prompting for selection of the backup electronic address in the address field prior to completing the automatic population of the backup electronic address within the address field, wherein said prompting occurs only when the notification is still valid; and   enabling selection from among: (a) substituting the first electronic address with the backup electronic address within the address field and (b) adding the backup electronic address along with the first electronic address within the address field.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic communication is an electronic-mail (e-mail) and the electronic address is an e-mail address. 
   
   
       9 . A system comprising:
 a processor;   an electronic communication engine that enables transmitting and receiving electronic messages using electronic addresses;   a utility associated with the electronic communication engine having program means for performing the functions of:
 recording a receipt of a notification from a first electronic address, said notification received in response to a first electronic communication from a sender electronic address to the first electronic address; 
 during subsequent composition of a new electronic communication, comparing a target electronic address of each addressee with the first electronic address; and 
 when the target electronic address matches the first electronic address, automatically populating an address field of the electronic communication with a backup electronic address associated with the first electronic address, such that the new electronic communication is addressed to be sent to the backup electronic address. 
   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a storage device, wherein:
 said program means for recording the receipt of the notification further includes means for storing the content of the notification identified by the electronic address within a notification list, said content including the backup electronic address;   said program means for comparing the target electronic address includes:
 means for detecting entry of the target electronic address within an address field of the new electronic communication being composed; and 
 means for comparing the target electronic address against one or more stored electronics address; and 
   said program means for automatically populating the address field includes:
 means for matching the target electronic address to one of the one or more stored electronic address within the notification list; 
 means for parsing the content of the notification for the backup electronic address to which subsequent electronic communication intended for said first electronic address is to be directed during the validity period; 
 retrieving the backup electronic address from the content stored within the notification list; 
 means for highlighting the backup electronic address within the address field; and 
 means for enabling editing of the backup electronic address within the address field. 
   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 said program means for recording the receipt of the notification further includes:
 means for parsing the content of the notification for a validity period, which indicates a period of time during which the notification is valid and the notification reminder should be displayed; and 
 means for storing the validity period along with the rest of the content of the notification; and 
   said program means for automatically populating further comprises:
 means for first checking whether the validity period of the notification has expired; 
 means for performing said automatically populating the address field with the backup electronic address only when the validity period is not expired; and 
 when the validity period is expired, means for deleting the content of the notification from the notification list. 
   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said utility further comprises:
 when the backup electronic address is detected within said content and the target electronic address matches the first electronic address:
 means for first prompting for selection of the backup electronic address in the address field prior to completing the automatic population of the backup electronic address within the address field, wherein said prompting occurs only when the notification is still valid; 
 means for enabling selection from among: (a) substituting the first electronic address with the backup electronic address within the address field and (b) adding the backup electronic address along with the first electronic address within the address field. 
   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic communication engine is a Mail User Agent, the electronic communication is an electronic-mail (e-mail), the electronic address is an e-mail address and said notification is an out-of-office notification, said utility further comprising:
 means for enabling opening of a out-of-office notification activation (ONA) graphical user interface (GUI); and   means for displaying within the ONA GUI a plurality of selectable options, including setup of an out-of-office notification, entry of a notification message, and entry of an electronic address corresponding to the backup electronic address and the validity period in which the notification is valid.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said means for automatically populating comprises:
 overwriting the target address with the backup electronic address, such that the electronic communication is automatically routed to the backup electronic address in lieu of the target electronic address when the electronic communication is transmitted; and   enabling editing of the address field following said automatically populating, said editing including one or more of: (a) removing the backup electronic address from the address field; and (b) re-entering of the target electronic address following the overwriting, wherein the re-entering of the target electronic address does not trigger a subsequent overwriting.   
   
   
       15 . A computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable medium; and   program instructions on the computer readable medium that when executed performs the functions of:
 recording a receipt of a notification from a first electronic address, said notification received in response to a first electronic communication from a sender electronic address to the first electronic address; 
 during subsequent composition of a new electronic communication, comparing a target electronic address of each addressee with the first electronic address; and 
 when the target electronic address matches the first electronic address, automatically populating an address field of the electronic communication with a backup electronic address associated with the first electronic address, such that the new electronic communication is addressed to be sent to the backup electronic address. 
   
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein:
 said program instructions for recording the receipt of the notification further includes instructions for storing the content of the notification identified by the electronic address within a notification list, said content including the backup electronic address;   said program instructions for comparing the target electronic address includes instructions for:
 detecting entry of the target electronic address within an address field of the new electronic communication being composed; and 
 comparing the target electronic address against one or more stored electronics address; and 
   said program instructions for automatically populating the address field includes instructions for:
 matching the target electronic address to one of the one or more stored electronic address within the notification list; 
 parsing the content of the notification for the backup electronic address to which subsequent electronic communication intended for said first electronic address is to be directed during the validity period; 
 retrieving the backup electronic address from the content stored within the notification list; 
 highlighting the backup electronic address within the address field; and 
 enabling editing of the backup electronic address within the address field. 
   
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein:
 said program instructions for recording the receipt of the notification further includes instructions for:
 parsing the content of the notification for a validity period, which indicates a period of time during which the notification is valid and the notification reminder should be displayed; and 
 storing the validity period along with the rest of the content of the notification; and 
   said program instructions for automatically populating further comprises instructions for:
 first checking whether the validity period of the notification has expired; 
 performing said automatically populating the address field with the backup electronic address only when the validity period is not expired; and 
 when the validity period is expired, deleting the content of the notification from the notification list. 
   
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein said program instruction further comprises instructions for:
 parsing the content of the notification for a backup electronic address to which subsequent electronic communication intended for said first electronic address is to be directed during the validity period; and   when the backup electronic address is detected within said content and the target electronic address matches the first electronic address, said instructions further comprising instructions for:
 first prompting for selection of the backup electronic address in the address field prior to completing the automatic population of the backup electronic address within the address field, wherein said prompting occurs only when the notification is still valid; and 
 enabling selection from among substituting the first electronic address with the backup electronic address within the address field and adding the backup electronic address along with the first electronic address within the address field; and 
 automatically populating the address field of the new electronic communication with the backup electronic address. 
   
   
   
       19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the electronic communication is an electronic-mail (e-mail) and the electronic address is an e-mail address and said notification is an out-of-office notification, said program instructions further comprising instructions for:
 enabling opening of a out-of-office notification activation (ONA) graphical user interface (GUI); and   displaying within the ONA GUI a plurality of selectable options, including setup of an out-of-office notification, entry of a notification message, and entry of an electronic address corresponding to the backup electronic address and the validity period in which the notification is valid.   
   
   
       20 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein said means for automatically populating comprises:
 overwriting the target address with the backup electronic address, such that the electronic communication is automatically routed to the backup electronic address in lieu of the target electronic address when the electronic communication is transmitted; and   
     enabling editing of the address field following said automatically populating, said editing including one or more of: (a) removing the backup electronic address from the address field; and (b) re-entering of the target electronic address following the overwriting, wherein the re-entering of the target electronic address does not trigger a subsequent overwriting.